Assistant library cat loses battle with leukemia
SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS
Today has been one of mixed emotions here in the Library.
Alex is holding on to 4th place in the Bissell Most Valuable Pet contest, among over 3400 entries. We are excited but know that in the last 24 hours of voting anything can happen. We need as many votes as we can get to stay in the top 5 and make the finals, so if you haven’t voted for him we’d love it if you did. To vote, click here.
On a sad note, our 5th and 6th graders gathered in the library to hear that our sweet little Siamese kitten, SnuggleBunny, has lost her fight with feline leukemia. These two classes had claimed her as their own special library cat, knowing full well that her life would be short.
“SnuggleBunny has died,” I told them, and went on to thank them for the very special thing they chose to do for her.
Only a few short months ago, we talked about SnuggleBunny, whose official name was Sabrina, and made the decision as a group to bring her to school and give her as good a life as Alex and Big Footsie.
“Thank you,” I said, “for putting SnuggleBunny and her feelings ahead of you and yours.” I told them what a wonderful and unselfish and grown-up thing they had done and how they had given her a happy life she would not have had otherwise.
There were tears and sad faces and lots of hugs. “We loved her,” said Makayla, and everyone agreed. Makayla said that she thinks SnuggleBunny and Big Footsie are playing together now and that Big Footsie is the boss!
I told them more than once how proud of them I am, and how much I appreciate what they did.
We all signed a card to Ms. Merry, who was SnuggleBunny’s foster mom in Kansas City, and we thanked her for sending this sweet little one to us.
We talked about how much fun she had had at our Library Cat Christmas party. SnuggleBunny did love a party, so we had a party today in her honor, with popcorn served on kitty napkins.
For me, SnuggleBunny’s time with us seems like a blur. It went by so fast. One of my favorite poets is Sara Teasdale, and one of her poems is staying on my mind.
“I saw a star slide down the sky, blinding the north as it went by;
Too burning and too quick to hold; too lovely to be bought or sold;
Good only to make wishes on and then forever to be gone.”
SnuggleBunny is our little falling star, gone way before we were ready.
Susan Loesch has been the librarian at the Arkansas School for the Blind for 35 years and is on the board of Feline Rescue and Rehome. She started the library cat program about 10 years ago after much animal therapy research.
SnuggleBunny was a gorgeous little girl – and such a sweetie. I’m so glad she had such a wonderful life with Susan and these great kids. She will be missed.
I met SnuggleBunny at this year’s Library Cat Christmas Party. She was really a wonderful little kitty and just seemed to love people. She will be missed. I also got to meet some of the smart, compassionate, great kids who attend AR. School for the Blind. I am thankful for the school, the children, the staff and especially Ms. Loesch, who by example, has helped shape the lives of these great kids.
It’s so hard to read through tears.
Susan–What you do for the kids as well as the cats that become “library cats” is such a beautiful and inspiring act. Thank you for showing children how precious the love of an animal can be and thank you for giving the sweet kitties the best life imaginable. PS: I don’t even live in AR (I’m in Chicago) but somehow found the story of your library cats on the web. You’re kindness is setting a wonderful example all over the country!
So sorry to hear about SnuggleBunny. I too have lost a kitty to cancer (breast) May of 2008. My heart is still broken for her and I miss her so much.
The poem from Sara Teasdale tells it all and was so lovely.
Glad she was able to be loved by all of the children and Susan. She had the purr-fect home!
Laurie
I am so sorry about Snugglebunny. I hope Allex wins the contest. Mrs. Loesch is the best.
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